Melbourne City has set up an A-League Grand Final meeting with Sydney FC after beating Macarthur FC in the second Semi-Final 2-0.
After a slow start, both sides slowly grew into the game, with both having big chances to take the lead into halftime.
However, after a scoreless first half, City stunned the Bulls after the break with two goals in quick succession from Stefan Colakovski and Marco Tilio.
Macarthur, whose maiden season ends in disappointment, will have to wait to win their first championship next season.
City meanwhile will face the Sky Blues in the decider next Saturday to claim their maiden A-League title.
CITY’S YOUNGSTERS FROM NO WHERE
Both Colakovski and Tilio proved their worth in a fixture of this magnitude, taking their second-half strikes with brilliant composure.
City was without their usual attacking threats of Andrew Nabbout, Jamie Maclaren and Craig Noone.
The opportunity fell for the young duo to take their chance tonight, and they came to life after halftime.
In the space of two minutes, Tilio first set Colakovski up for a tap-in before the latter returned the favour almost immediately.
Colakovski showed excellent composure to steady and put Tilio through on goal with Federici.
The ex-Sydney FC youngster did the rest by sliding the ball past the veteran goalkeeper to seal a Grand-Final spot next week.
NUNO REIS HEROICS
City’s Portuguese defender Nuno Reis made a crucial last-ditch goal-line clearance to thwart a Charles M’Mombwa strike in the first half.
It looked for all money that M’Mombwa would score his second goal of this season’s finals series after rounding Tom Glover.
Still, Reis got back to slide in and clear an opening goal for the Bulls.
The intervention helped City preserve their clean sheet and allow them to go on and put Macarthur to the sword in the second half.
IVAN FRANJIC RESURGENCE
Macarthur’s most significant chance arguably came in the 35th minute when defender Ivan Franjic aimed a strike from 25-yards out.
The A-League stalwart saw his effort rattle Glover’s crossbar, with the goalkeeper beaten all ends up.
Had it went in, it might have been up there as one of the most incredible all-time finals series goals.
However, that was the closest Macarthur came throughout the ninety.
City’s control meant clear-cut chances were hard to come by.
Melbourne City 2 (Colakovski 54m, Tilio 55m) Macarthur 0 at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium
Referee: Daniel Elder
Crowd:
VAR:
Melbourne City: 4-3-3
1. (GK) Tom Glover, 2. Scott Galloway, 3. Scott Jamieson (19. Ben Garuccio, 69m), 4. Nuno Reis, 7. Rostyn Griffiths, 8. Aiden O’Neill, 10. Florin Berenguer, 20. Adrian Luna, 17. Stefan Colakovski, 13. Nathaniel Atkinson, 23. Marco Tilio
Unused Subs: 33. Matthew Sutton, 36. Kerrin Stokes, 16. Taras Gomulka, 39. Anthony Lesiotis, 35. Raphael Borges Rodrigues, 14. Naoki Tsubaki
Manager: Patrick Kisnorbo
Yellow Cards: Florin Berenguer, Aiden O’Neill, Ben Garuccio
Red Cards: None
Macarthur: 4-2-3-1
1. (GK) Adam Federici, 2. Jake McGing, 7. Ivan Franjic, 5. Mark Milligan, 15. Aleksandar Susnjar, 4. Beñat Etxebarria (3. Antony Golec, 62m), 24. Charles M’Mombwa (33. Markel Susaeta, 70m), 29. Antonis Martis, 10. Loïc Puyo (19. Michael Ruhs, 62m), 11. Tommy Oar (31. Lachlan Rose, 70m), 27. Matt Derbyshire
Unused Subs: 16. Nick Suman, 21. Jake Hollman, 22. Liam Rose, 33. Markel Susaeta
Manager: Ante Milicic
Yellow Cards: Charles M’Mombwa
Red Cards: None
Image Supplied: Melbourne City
